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The Pirates also have interest in relievers Koji Uehara and Andrew Miller, left-handed starter/reliever Felix Doubront, outfielder Jonny Gomes, first baseman/outfielder Mike Carp and third baseman Will Middlebrooks, any of whom reportedly could be packaged in a deal involving Lester, John Perrotto of the Beaver County Times reported Tuesday.

Pittsburgh would be willing to send a “significant” package of prospects back the Red Sox’s way, a club source told Perrotto, who also reported that the package could include big leaguers Starling Marte and Pedro Alvarez if Boston is willing to part with players who are not in the final year of their contracts. Doubront, Carp and Middlebrooks fit this criteria.

The Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber noted Tuesday that the Pirates showed some interest in Carp last offseason, and Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that the team has “interest in members of Boston’s bullpen.”

Since Lester, who was scratched from his Wednesday start, likely would be only a rental in Pittsburgh, Perrotto’s source said the Pirates are not willing to offer their top prospects — right-handers Tyler Glasnow, Nick Kingham and Jameson Taillon, catcher Reese McGuire and outfielders Josh Bell and Austin Meadows — in a deal for the lefty.

This runs contrary, however, to an earlier Yahoo! Sports report, which states that Bell, a switch-hitting 21-year-old currently at Double-A, is at the center of the negotiations. Biertempfel also reported that the package could include both Bell and Glasnow, who has a 1.75 ERA this season in 17 starts at High-A Bradenton.

It's sad. You fans don't realize that if the red sox just start selling they are going to be the astros for the next 4 or 5 years. Trading for prospects is insanely risky. Trading Lester means our rotation is going to blow. Trading miller or Uehara means our bullpen blows. Have fun watching the red sox become the new astros if that's what you all want.

Well, Doubront is off the table. But Koji and Miller? You've gotta be kidding. Everyone else in the bullpen is a question mark. You know you're getting lights-out performances from Koji and Miller seems to be in great shape. Remember when happened after the last Red Sox salary dump/fire sale?

Josh Bell may be off the table if we’re just talking about Lester, but if they’re talking about a multi player haul, the Pirates won’t have nay choice to put him back on the table. along with 4 or 5 others.